Ulster full back Bryn Cunningham will be sidelined for between four to six weeks following a stud injury received against Stade Francais last weekend in the province's European Cup match at Ravenhill. The Ulster management, after watching a tape of the match, said they will not be citing any of the French players.
The incident, which occurred in the 31st minute, forced Cunningham to undergo an operation under general anaesthetic for a deep wound to his leg which required an estimated 30 stitches.
According to team manager Joe Miles, the tape did not capture the incident so Ulster will not be taking the issue any further with the ERC.
Cunningham (23), who had retained his place in the Ulster side following their 40-11 defeat in Paris, will be out of the team which faces Neath in the Celtic League quarter-final at the end of the month.
"We have looked hard at the tapes but we are of the opinion that we will not be citing any French player," said Miles. "It was not caught on camera and as far as we are concerned that is the end of the matter.
"We are disappointed for Bryn because he had fought his way back onto the team. It is an incident which happened and we will get on with it. It was a deep wound, close to the bone. He has had surgery but he's at home now recovering."
Cunningham's injury occurred the same weekend it was revealed that former international front row Gary Halpin is to take a civil case against DLSP player Kent Ashmore for an alleged stamping incident nine months ago in an AIL match.
Halpin, then playing for Blackrock, received 40 stitches for a lacerated ear. Video evidence in that case proved inconclusive when Blackrock cited Ashmore.
A 48th-minute try from flanker Eoin Kenny helped Connacht Schools to a 13-3 victory over Leinster A Schools at Ballinasloe yesterday. The home side led 8-0 following a penalty from Paddy O'Toole and a Martin Carey try, before Leinster outhalf Conal Keane reduced the deficit after 13 minutes.
LEINSTER UNDER-21 (v Connacht): B Burke (Barnhall); J Norton (St Mary's), B Lynn (St Mary's), J Downey (Clontarf), P Costelloe (Terenure); E Hickey (UCD), B O'Riordan (UCD); J Lyne (Lansdowne), B Blaney (Terenure), J Keogh (Terenure), R Bolger (Carlow), C Davis (UCD), S Jennings (St Mary's), capt, R Connolly (Greystones), M Carroll (Blackrock).
MUNSTER SCHOOLS (v Ulster): D O'Kane (Crescent College); P Hurley (CBC), C McNaughton (Rockwell), J Gleeson (Presentation College), D Kingston (Presentation College); B Keeshan (presentation Brothers), T O'Leary (CBC); J Mackessy (Rockwell), D Fogarty (Rockwell), A Guiry (St Munchin's), R Noonan (CBC), D Murnane (St Munchin's), D Upton (Crescent College), E Griffin (capt, Crescent College), M Melbourne (Rockwell)
